RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Behaviors developed in adolescence influence health later in life. Adolescents seldom visit physicians to discuss health-related behaviors. Instead, physicians must incorporate health counseling into the exams for which the adolescents do come. We studied the frequency and duration of adolescents' consultations with family physicians and pediatricians involving counseling about diet and nutrition, exercise, weight reduction, cholesterol reduction, HIV transmission, injury prevention, and tobacco use. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for the 3-year period from 1995 through 1997. This survey uses a multistage national probability sample of patient visits to nonfederal, office-based physicians. We described patterns of counseling provided to adolescents and compared patterns for family physicians/general practitioners and pediatricians. RESULTS: Of 91,395 physician-reported visits analyzed, 4,242 (4.6%) were by adolescents ages 12-19. Visits to family physicians and pediatricians accounted for 1,846 (43.5%) of these visits. Counseling about any of the seven areas studied was included in 15.8% of family physician visits and 21.6% of pediatrician visits. The length of consultation increased from 13.8 to 17.6 minutes if counseling was included. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents visits physicians infrequently. When they do, few receive counseling on critical adolescent health issues. Both family physicians and pediatricians have room for improvement.
Asunto(s)
Servicios de Salud del Adolescente/normas , Educación del Paciente como Asunto/normas , Servicios Preventivos de Salud/normas , Calidad de la Atención de Salud/normas , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria/normas , Humanos , Pediatría/normas , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/normasRESUMEN
Patient education is an integral part of the nurse's responsibility. Furthermore, public awareness of health issues has greatly increased public demand for information from health professionals. The author presents some teaching strategies that can be used by nurse educators to prepare students for their future role as teachers.
Asunto(s)
Educación en Enfermería/métodos , Educación del Paciente como Asunto/normas , Enseñanza/métodos , Competencia Clínica , Humanos , Estudiantes de EnfermeríaRESUMEN
The National Adult Literacy Survey reported that 44 million adult Americans could not read or write well enough to meet the needs of everyday living and working. Low literacy is more prevalent than the average nurse is aware, and often the written materials given to patients are above their reading level and therefore are misunderstood. This article defines literacy and describes literacy screening tools and readability formulas. Recommendations for including assessment of literacy and readability as essential activities of the advanced practice nurse (APN) are presented. The APN can be instrumental in providing leadership and directing education, thus ameliorating the effects of low literacy.
Asunto(s)
Educación/métodos , Enfermeras Clínicas , Educación del Paciente como Asunto/normas , Factores Socioeconómicos , Especialidades de Enfermería/métodos , HumanosRESUMEN
Lack of training interferes with health-care professionals' ability to teach effectively. Nursing staff development educators are seeking strategies to overcome teaching-skill deficits. A 30-hour program was designed to improve teaching skills. Evaluation was based on operationally defined teaching skills. Sixty-six course participants' teaching skills improved from the beginning to the end of the course. Further research is needed to determine whether effects persist in practice, whether patients benefit, and whether "training of trainers" is feasible.